Miksa Fenyő (December 8, 1877 – April 4, 1972) was a Hungarian writer and intellectual.

He was also mentor to Hungary's second most important poet laureate (Endre Ady), co-founded the most important periodical in Hungarian literature (), and was an instrumental figure in the Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ) prior to World War II.

Biography

Fenyő was one of eight children born in Mélykút ("Deepwell"), Hungary into a hard-working Jewish tailoring family. He attended the then prominent Evangelist Middle School (high school) of Budapest. After graduating from high school with exceptional honors in Hungarian writing, he earned his Law Diploma from the Budapest University of Law (now part of the University of Budapest (ELTE)). After a brief and failed attempt at working as a private attorney, he found an opportunity to work for the then two-year-old Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ), an organization which became key to the development of Hungary's primarily rural agricultural economic base, into an increasingly industrial one. In 1908 Fenyő and two other writers founded the literary and social journal, Nyugat (The West). He barely survived WWII in Budapest, being the second most wanted person, dead or alive, by the Nazis (behind (Raoul Wallenberg, the heroic Sweden diplomat who helped save thousands of Jews during his time in Hungary). Fenyő wrote an important diary about his time in hiding during the war which was published in 1946.

Chronology of Feny's life

Budapest Years, 1887-1948.

• 1887 At age 10 Miksa is enrolled by his father to study at the Lutheran Gymnasium in Budapest . Half of the school's pupils are from well-to-do Jewish families. Miksa will excel in Hungarian and Geography. His uncle, Weil, his father's brother, provides him room and board with his family in their two-bedroom apartment at Kiraly utca 15. This building is called Splenyi House and belonged to Baron Splenyi , who was the actress Lujza Blaha 's husband. And this building also housed at its street level The Blue Cat nightclub, visited by rich businessmen and nobility alike.
• 1891 Miksa is awarded by his teacher Albert Lehr the school's famous Döbrentei-díj for his mastery of the Hungarian language.
• 1892 The Magyar Géniusz is launched.
• 1895 Miksa graduates from the Lutheran Central Gymnasium and enters ELTE Law School .
• 1897 Miksa is now 20. Though he is relatively poor friends invite him to the theatres and other cultural events where he gets his first impressions of the cultural scene. Has his first writing published in Magyar Géniusz. Fenyő will have his articles, theatre play reviews, and poems published in the Magyar Szalon, Magyar Géniusz and Budapesti Szemle.
• 1899 Miksa earns his Masters Law Diploma from The University of Budapest 's Law School.
• 1900 Miksa first meets with Ferenc Chorin , who will later on play a significant role in Miksa's life and career at the GYOSZ .
• 1901 Miksa earns his Doctors Law Diploma from ELTE Law School and is made a Barrister at Law .
• 1902 The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ ) is established. Ern'Osvát becomes the editor of the Magyar Géniusz.
• 1903 Miksa, 26, gets married to his first wife Aurelia (Rella) Schoffer, and takes his first trip abroad, to Vienna, Prague and Berlin, on their honeymoon. Miksa's attempt to make a living as a practicing lawyer fails and he is forced to close his small office and work for other law firms. The Magyar Géniusz ends.
• 1904 Miksa's first son, George Fenyő (György), is born. Miksa takes on a job offer as a secretary at The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ ).
• 1905 Miksa's second son, Iván Fenyő, is born. The Figyelő, precursor to the Nyugat (The West), is launched. Miksa also gets involved in the formation of the Galilei Circle that works towards creating peaceful understanding and coexistence between Christians and Jews.
• 1907 Miksa is now 30. During the next ten years he will travel many times to Italy, especially Venice, Rome, and other cities in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and other neighboring countries, almost all without any documents (passports).
• 1908 Miksa Fenyő founds the Nyugat literary and cultural periodical with Hugó Ignotus, its Chief Editor until 1929, and Ernő Osvát, co-Editor with Miksa until his untimely suicide in 1929, at the Café Bristol. First edition of the Nyugat is published on the 1st of January. Most of the Nyugat work is done at the Szabadság Cafe and The New York Café . Through the Nyugat Miksa gets to know and befriend many of the greatest intellectuals and writers of the time in Budapest, such as the feminist writer Margit Kaffka , the poet Mihály Babits (who will be the godfather of his last child Mario), and many other greats. He also gets to know many of the great musicians (Bartók, Kodály) and other important social and political personalities of the times. He makes friendly acquaintanceship with Thomas Mann and Freud.
• 1909 Miksa Fenyő has a key role in the founding of the Nyugat Publishing firm that will end up publishing some 412 books during its forty year history, all written by some of the best Hungarian and foreign writers of the times.
• 1910 Miksa’s daughter Anna Fenyő (Panni) is born.
• 1911 Miksa is the progenitor of Magyar Gyáripar, the official journal of the GYOSZ.
• 1912 Miksa’s famous study on “Casanova” is published by the Nyugat Publishing firm, of which Miksa is a founder, major shareholder and editor.
• 1914 The archduke of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo and World War I begins. Miksa is nearly attacked by a large mob of pro-war demonstrators while riding a horse carriage across Margit Island Bridge, some of them who take offence to Miksa’s unwillingness to join them in their rage. Fortunately a distant acquaintance recognizes Miksa and saves him from the danger.
• 1915 Miksa publishes a short book on Hungarian-German customs issues.
• 1917 Miksa is now 40. The Russian Revolution shakes the world. Endre Ady, already in very bad health, requests that Miksa name his first grandson after him. Neither of his first three children will ever have children of their own (only later on in 1964 will he be able to oblige Ady’s request). In the spring of 1917 Miksa is appointed General-Director of the GYOSZ. Miksa is now able to travel throughout Central-Europe, sometimes out of his position with the GYOSZ and sometimes strictly as a private individual on holiday.
• 1918 World War I ends. The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has seized to exist and much of historic Hungary is annexed to neighboring countries, some of this in a sincere but ill-devised effort to prevent another world war. Ady is depressed by the annexation of his native Transylvania from the rest of Hungary. Miksa is named Minister of Commerce in the short-lived 24 hour Hadik government. The Chrysanthenum Revolution in Hungary breaks out and is soon followed by a reign of terror. Admiral Horthy, a conservative nationalist who applies certain fascist methods will end up ruling Hungary for the next 26 years, enters Budapest and stops the White Terror with the help of Romanian troops.
• 1919 Endre Ady dies, at age 41, of severe health complications that began with his acquiring Syphilis many years earlier. The death of Ady deeply upsets Miksa and Miksa who was not only an admirer and trusted friend to the poet, but like Baron Hatvany one of the poet’s mentors.
• 1920 During the next ten years Miksa is busy working for the GYOSZ, writing articles and contributions to the Nyugat and raising his children.
• 1921 Miksa Fenyő once more has a key role as a senior contributor to the Nyugat, but not as an Editor.
• 1925 Miksa Fenyő’s role as co-publisher of the Nyugat ends.
• 1927 Miksa is now 50. Along with the Hungarian ex-Minister of Justice, Emil Nagy, Miksa, as Director of The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists, writes a criticism of the way Hungary was over-punished for its role in World War One, titled “Trianon And Its Consequences” (in French and Italian), which places Fenyő clearly in the camp of those in the majority of Hungarian Jewish intellectuals who oppose the manner in which greater Hungary was divided.
• 1929 Miksa is shocked by Ernő Osvát ’s suicide in October 1929, following the death of Osvat’s young daughter. As of 1929 Miksa and Hugo Ignotus, shocked by Osvat’s untimely departure, will no longer be directly involved in the life of the Nyugat. The poet Mihaly Babits becomes the new editor of the Nyugat, working with co-Editors Oszkár Gellért and Zsigmond Móricz . Miksa’s writings appear in papers like the Esti Kurir.
• 1930 The Great Depression that began in America has affected Hungary along with the rest of the world and the GYOSZ, greatly respected by many for its dedicated support of Hungarian intellectuals and writers, is relatively effective in helping Hungary cope with the dire economic situation.
• 1931 Miksa is elected as an independent representative to the Upper House of the Hungarian Parliament. Rella, Miksa’s first wife, suffers in a car accident that leaves her living in great pain.
• 1933 Miksa’s first wife, Rella, dies. Her grave is marked by an angel statue created on commission by Fulop Beck, one of those artists most closely associated with the Nyugat. The GYOSZ is instrumental in helping thwart the rise of an even more extreme right-wing government in Hungary, and subsequently the GYOSZ is marginalized and attacked by the extreme right.
• 1934 Miksa marries Maria Seyringer, whose mother is a top secretary working at the GYOSZ, in the fall of 1934. The church ceremony is conducted by Father Emil Kriegsau, who turns coats from a priest who initially promoted interfaith coexistence to a supporter of Hitler, disregarding the fact that Miksa had donated tons of bricks to the building of one of his churches. As an independent member of the Hungarian Parliament Miksa writes a critical and cautionary study on “Hitler” and the dictator’s dangerous plans for Europe. He is virtually the only Member of Parliament to dare criticize the NAZI regime. It is published through the Nyugat Publishing house and copies are provided to other members of the parliament. For this Miksa will end up being placed second after Raoul Wallenberg on sick Adolf Hitler’s personal “Most Wanted List”!
• 1935 At 58 Miksa’s third son, first and only child from his second marriage, Mario is born on the 19th of September 1935 at János Kórház in Budapest. This will be his final year as a Member of Parliament. Miksa is listed in the famous London publication titled “Who’s Who”.
• 1937 Miksa is now 60. His significant writing on Istvan Bethlen is published in the Nyugat. The Vienna-based Central European Times newspaper lists Miksa in its annual, large-volume publication “Who’s Who In Central And East Europe”. Miksa Fenyő’s office address is at Budapest V., Akadémia út 1. Anti-Jewish laws are passed that make life very difficult and by 1943 will make life very dangerous for Miksa and his family.
• 1938 Miksa Fenyő is forced to resign from his position as Director of The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists, as a result of new, anti-Jewish laws passed by the Hungarian parliament. Miksa and his new family move into their new residence at Kútvölgyi u. 43 in the 12th District, a three-story villa on the side of one of Buda’s hills overlooking the city, built by the architect Béla Barát.
• 1939 World War Two begins.
• 1941 United States enters the World War. The Nyugat’s last year and further anti-Jewish laws are passed this and the following year.
• 1943 Miksa’s youngest son is placed with his wife’s half sister Edit Raskó and her husband and told to use his middle name Dénes (Denis) while Miksa, along with his first three children and other relatives are all forced into hiding from the NAZIs and the Arrow Cross.
• 1944 While in hiding for his life Miksa starts writing “Az elsodort ország” (The Swept Country), his WWII diary, on the 22nd of June. The NAZIs and Arrow Cross steal Miksa’s villa, other real estate and all his belongings. Many of the GYOSZ’s and the Nyugat’s intellectuals and leaders are forced to hide or escape in exile or are murdered.
• 1945 Miksa finishes writing his diary on the 19th of January 1945. World War Two ends. Miksa tries to revive the GYOSZ (The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists) as President and Commercial Director of the federation, but following anti-capitalist attacks against the GYOSZ throughout the next three years will force the GYOSZ to dissolve itself in 1948. He was also the Managing Director of Signer & Wolfner and wrote for the periodical Haladas (Progress).
• 1946 First edition of his WWII diary “Az elsodort ország” is published. Miksa considers this his best writing ever.
• 1948 Miksa, 71, is forced to flee Budapest after he is informed that Stalin has plans for him for his role as Director-General of the Hungarian Federation of Industrialists. By years end the Nyugat Publishing firm will seize to exist.

Rome and Paris Years, 1948-1952.

• 1949 Miksa moves to his favorite city of Rome and spends hours doing research and reading at the Italian National Library. He is invited to become a Minister in the new Jewish State of Israel by Ben Gurion, but refuses on account of his concerns about violence following the creation of the new state and his personal feelings about having converted to Catholicism more than 30 years earlier. Even so, Miksa will keep close friendships with some of his contemporaries who will take part in building the new nation.
• 1951 Miksa finishes writing his first novel, “Jesus is DP volt” (Jesus was also a Displaced Person)”, while living in Rome. The novel has never (yet) been published. Nor has his novel titled “Haláltánc” (Dance of Death) ever been published. Miksa moves to Paris.

New York City Years, 1953-1969.

• 1953 Miksa and his family arrive in New York City, and here Miksa will spend most of the rest of his life reminiscing and watching his son Mario’s career and family life develop. His residence in New York is at 26 East 93rd Street.
• 1956 Miksa is deeply saddened by the tragedy of the 1956 Uprising in Hungary against Stalinism and the deaths of many innocents.
• 1957 Miksa is now 80.
• 1960 Miksa’s book on the history of the Nyugat is published by Patria Press, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
• 1961 Miksa’s son Mario earns his M.A. degree at Yale University and finds work at The National Archives in Washington, D.C. till 1967.
• 1963 Miksa begins writing his autobiography at age 86. His travel memoir of Italy, “Ami kimaradt az Odysseából” (“What Was Left Out of the Odyssey”) is published by GRIFF publishers in Munich. His son Mario marries Ileana Lavinia Viscal y Garriga, the granddaughter of the Captain of the Port of San Juan who helped navigate the U.S. naval fleet into Puerto Rico’s main port and capital in 1918, on the 28th of May 1963.
• 1964 Miksa is awarded Italy’s highest and most prestigious literary award, The Rome Award for Literature, for his travel book and memoirs on Italy titled “Ami Kimaradt Az Oddyseabol”. Miksa’s first grandson, Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő, is born on the 23rd of July 1964 in Washington, D.C.. His best friend Ferenc Chorin (1879-1964) dies in New York. Miksa writes a long article about the life of Ferenc Chorin.
• 1966 Miksa is officially invited to visit Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 1966 by Janos Kádár ’s minister of culture and education, the writer Dezső Keresztury . During his brief visit he is the subject of great media attention and public interest. Erzsébet Vezér, an important researcher of 20th Century Hungarian literature, conducts a radio interview with Miksa. Miksa’s son Mario earns his PhD in History at The American University in Washington, D.C..

Vienna Years, 1969-1972.

• 1969 Miksa moves to Vienna, partly in protest against the war in Vietnam and partly to be close to his native Hungary in old age. His last residence is at Seilerstatte Strasse 10, in the heart of old Vienna, in the same building where his old-time friend Joseph Litvan lives, who is married to Ági Fenyő, the daughter of Bella Fenyő, one of Miksa’s three sisters.
• 1970 Miksa’s second and last grandson, Gian-Carlo Babits Fenyő, is born on October the 21st. In August Miksa gives his collection of priceless authentic Ady letters and poems, a beautiful pastel of Ady’s last wife, Csinszka, and other invaluable mementos that are currently prized by The Petőfi Museum of Literature.
• 1971 In the summer of 1971 Miksa meets his son Mario, his daughter in law (Ileana) and his two grandsons for the last time. A photo of Jean-Pierre playing the violin for his grandfather is shown in an expat Hungarian newspaper.
• 1972 Miksa Fenyő dies at the age of 95 on the 4th of April 1972 in Vienna, at his last residence on Seilerstatte Strasse, survived by his second wife Ria Fenyő (Maria Seyringer), 65, their mutual son Mario Denis Fenyő (Mario Dénes Fenyő), 37, and his two grandsons, Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő, 8, and Gian-Carlo Babits Fenyő, 2, as well as his first three children, Iván Fenyő, George (György) Fenyő and Anna Fenyő (Panni). Yale University Press publishes Prof. Mario D. Fenyő’s book, “Hitler, Horthy and Hungary”, which was reviewed by Miksa before his death.
• 1975 Fenyő Miksa’s memories and history of the Nyugat is reworked by Erzsébet Vezer, a top researcher at the Petőfi Museum of Literature, and published by Akadémia Kiadó.
• 1986 Fenyő Miksa’s wartime diary, “Az elsodort ország” is reprinted forty years later.
• 1989 A new version of The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ) is founded after a 41 year period of Stalinism and Soviet-controlled Hungary.